Technique for providing an improved signaling network for telephone systems

Claim 2

Circuitry cooperatively arranged with a signaling system for improving the operation of the signaling system, the signaling system being composed of a) a plurality of service switching points (SSPs) forming a network wherein said network of SSPs contains at least one signaling link consolidator such that each of said SSPs in said network is connected to said link consolidator through an associated individual signaling link and b) a signaling transfer point (STP) external to said network and connected to said signaling link consolidator via another signaling link, said circuitry comprising: means, within each SSP, for producing a signaling message; means, within an originating SSP, for inserting the STP address and a destination address in said signaling message, said destination address corresponding to a destination SSP, said inserting means further comprising means for translating a portion of a destination number provided by the originating SSP into a destination point code corresponding to said destination SSP or said STP to which the signaling message is to be sent; and means, coupled to said means for producing, for sending said signaling message from said originating SSP to said destination SSP via said link consolidator, the signaling link connected to said originating SSP, and the signaling link connected to said destination SSP, or to said STP via said link consolidator.

Claim 3

The circuitry as recited in claim 1 wherein said translating means further comprises: means for translating, if feasible, a first portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said STP; means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; and means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said destination SSP.

Claim 4

The circuitry as recited in claim 2 wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number.

Claim 5

The circuitry as recited in claim 3 wherein said first portion translating means further comprises an NPA table which uses the NPA number to determine said destination point code.

Claim 6

The circuitry as recited in claim 3 wherein said second portion translating means further comprises an NXX table which uses the NXX number to determine said destination point code.

Claim 7

Circuitry cooperatively arranged with a signaling system for improving the operation of the signaling system, the signaling system being composed of a plurality of service switching points (SSPs) forming a network wherein said network of SSPs contains at least one signaling link consolidator such that each of said SSPs in said network is connected to said link consolidator through an associated individual signaling link, said circuitry comprising: means, within each SSP, for producing a signaling message; means, within an originating SSP, for inserting a destination address in said signaling message, said destination address corresponding to a destination SSP; and means, coupled to said means for producing, for sending said signaling message from said originating SSP to said destination SSP via said link consolidator, the signaling link connected to said originating SSP, and the signaling link connected to said destination SSP, wherein the signaling system includes a signaling transfer point (STP) external to said network and connected to said signaling link consolidator via another signaling link, wherein said inserting means further comprises means for inserting the STP address in said signaling message, and wherein in said means for sending further comprises means for sending said signaling message to STP, wherein said originating SSP provides a destination number and said means for inserting further comprises means for translating a portion of said destination number into a destination point code of said destination SSP or said STP to which the signaling message is to be sent, wherein said translating means further comprises means for translating, if feasible, a first portion of said destination number to said destination point code corresponding to said STP; means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; and means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said destination SSP, wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number, wherein said first portion translating means further comprises: an NPA table which uses the NPA number to determine said destination point code, means for retrieving an information field from said NPA table; means for determining from said information field if said NPA number is supported by said NPA table; and means for assigning said destination point code to said signaling message such that said message containing said destination number is routed to said STP if said determining means indicates that said NPA number is not supported by said NPA table.

Claim 8

Circuitry cooperatively arranged with a signaling system for improving the operation of the signaling system, the signaling system being composed of a plurality of service switching points (SSPs) forming a network wherein said network of SSPs contains at least one signaling link consolidator such that each of said SSPs in said network is connected to said link consolidator through an associated individual signaling link, said circuitry comprising: means, within each SSP, for producing a signaling message; means, within an originating SSP, for inserting a destination address in said signaling message, said destination address corresponding to a destination SSP; and means, coupled to said means for producing, for sending said signaling message from said originating SSP to said destination SSP via said link consolidator, the signaling link connected to said originating SSP, and the signaling link connected to said destination SSP, wherein the signaling system includes a signaling transfer point (STP) external to said network and connected to said signaling link consolidator via another signaling link, wherein said inserting means further comprises means for inserting the STP address in said signaling message, and wherein in said means for sending further comprises means for sending said signaling message to STP, wherein said originating SSP provides a destination number and said means for inserting further comprises means for translating a portion of said destination number into a destination point code of said destination SSP or said STP to which the signaling message is to be sent, wherein said translating means further comprises means for translating, if feasible, a first portion of said destination number to said destination point code corresponding to said STP; means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; and means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said destination SSP, wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number, wherein said first portion translating means further comprises: an NPA table which uses the NPA number to determine said destination point code, means for retrieving an information field from said NPA table; means for determining from said information field if said NPA number is supported by said NPA table; and means for assigning said destination point code to said signaling message such that said message containing said destination number is routed to said STP if said determining means indicates that said NPA number is not supported by said NPA table.

Claim 9

Circuitry cooperatively arranged with a signaling system for improving the operation of the signaling system, the signaling system being composed of a plurality of service switching points (SSPs) forming a network wherein said network of SSPs contains at least one signaling link consolidator such that each of said SSPs in said network is connected to said link consolidator through an associated individual signaling link, said circuitry comprising: means, within each SSP, for producing a signaling message; means, within an originating SSP, for inserting a destination address in said signaling message, said destination address corresponding to a destination SSP; and means, coupled to said means for producing, for sending said signaling message from said originating SSP to said destination SSP via said link consolidator, the signaling link connected to said originating SSP, and the signaling link connected to said destination SSP, wherein the signaling system includes a signaling transfer point (STP) external to said network and connected to said signaling link consolidator via another signaling link, wherein said inserting means further comprises means for inserting the STP address in said signaling message, and wherein in said means for sending further comprises means for sending said signaling message to STP, wherein said originating SSP provides a destination number and said means for inserting further comprises means for translating a portion of said destination number into a destination point code of said destination SSP or said STP to which the signaling message is to be sent, wherein said translating means further comprises means for translating, if feasible, a first portion of said destination number to said destination point code corresponding to said STP; means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; and means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said destination SSP, wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number, wherein said second portion translating means further comprises: an NXX table which uses the NXX number to determine said destination point code, means for retrieving an information field from said NXX table; means for determining from said information field if said NXX number is supported by said NXX table; and means for routing said destination number to said STP if said determining means indicates that said NXX number is not supported by said NXX table; means for determining if said information field contains said destination point code; means for inserting said destination point code into said signaling message; and means for routing said signaling message to said destination SSP that corresponds to said destination point code.

Claim 10

Circuitry cooperatively arranged with a signaling system for improving the operation of the signaling system, the signaling system being composed of a plurality of service switching points (SSPs) forming a network wherein said network of SSPs contains at least one signaling link consolidator such that each of said SSPs in said network is connected to said link consolidator through an associated individual signaling link, said circuitry comprising: means, within each SSP, for producing a signaling message; means, within an originating SSP, for inserting a destination address in said signaling message, said destination address corresponding to a destination SSP; and means, coupled to said means for producing, for sending said signaling message from said originating SSP to said destination SSP via said link consolidator, the signaling link connected to said originating SSP, and the signaling link connected to said destination SSP, wherein the signaling system includes a signaling transfer point (STP) external to said network and connected to said signaling link consolidator via another signaling link, wherein said inserting means further comprises means for inserting the STP address in said signaling message, and wherein in said means for sending further comprises means for sending said signaling message to STP, wherein said originating SSP provides a destination number and said means for inserting further comprises means for translating a portion of said destination number into a destination point code of said destination SSP or said STP to which the signaling message is to be sent, wherein said translating means further comprises means for translating, if feasible, a first portion of said destination number to said destination point code corresponding to said STP; means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; and means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said destination SSP, wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number, wherein said second portion translating means further comprises: an NXX table which uses the NXX number to determine said destination point code, means for retrieving an information field from said NXX table; means for determining from said information field if said NXX number is supported by said NXX table; and means for routing said destination number to said STP if said determining means indicates that said NXX number is not supported by said NXX table; means for determining if said information field contains said destination point code; means for inserting said destination point code into said signaling message; and means for routing said signaling message to said destination SSP that corresponds to said destination point code.

Claim 11

Circuitry cooperatively arranged with a signaling system for improving the operation of the signaling system, the signaling system being composed of a plurality of service switching points (SSPs) forming a network wherein said network of SSPs contains at least one link consolidator such that each of said SSPs in said network is connected to said link consolidator through an associated individual signaling link, said circuitry comprising: means, within each SSP, for producing a custom local area signaling service (CLASS) message; means, within an originating SSP, for inserting a destination address in said message, said destination message corresponding to said destination SSP; and means, coupled to said means for producing, for sending said message from said originating SSP to said destination SSP via said link consolidator, the signaling link connected to said originating SSP, and the signaling link connected to said destination SSP.

Claim 12

Circuitry cooperatively arranged with a signaling system for improving the operation of the signaling system, the signaling system being composed of a plurality of service switching points (SSPs) forming a network wherein said network of SSPs contains at least one link consolidator such that each of said SSPs in said network is connected to said link consolidator through an associated individual signaling link, said circuitry comprising: means, within each SSP, for producing a custom local area signaling service (CLASS) message; means, within an originating SSP, for inserting a destination address in said message, said destination message corresponding to said destination SSP; and means, coupled to said means for producing, for sending said message from said originating SSP to said destination SSP via said link consolidator, the signaling link connected to said originating SSP, and the signaling link connected to said destination SSP.

Claim 13

Circuitry cooperatively arranged with a signaling system for improving the operation of the signaling system, the signaling system being composed of a plurality of service switching points (SSPs) forming a network wherein said network of SSPs has at least one signaling link consolidator such that each of said SSPs in said network is connected to said link consolidator through an associated individual signaling link, a signaling link connects said signaling link consolidator to a signaling transfer point (STP) located outside of the network of SSPs, said circuitry comprising: means, within each SSP, for producing a custom local area signaling service (CLASS) message; means, connected to said producing means, for translating a destination number supplied by an originating SSP into a destination point code for either a destination SSP or the STP, said translating means further comprising means for translating, if feasible, a first portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said STP, means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated, and means for translating in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said destination SSP; means for addressing said CLASS message using the destination point code as an address; and means for sending, via at least one signaling link, said CLASS message to either said destination SSP or the STP depending upon the address.

Claim 14

Circuitry cooperatively arranged with a signaling system for improving the operation of the signaling system, the signaling system being composed of a plurality of service switching points (SSPs) forming a network wherein said network of SSPs has at least one signaling link consolidator such that each of said SSPs in said network is connected to said link consolidator through an associated individual signaling link, a signaling link connects said signaling link consolidator to a signaling transfer point (STP) located outside of the network of SSPs, said circuitry comprising: means, within each SSP, for producing a custom local area signaling service (CLASS) message; means, connected to said producing means, for translating a destination number supplied by an originating SSP into a destination point code for either a destination SSP or the STP, said translating means further comprising means for translating, if feasible, a first portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said STP, means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated, and means for translating in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said destination SSP; means for addressing said CLASS message using the destination point code as an address; and means for sending, via at least one signaling link, said CLASS message to either said destination SSP or the STP depending upon the address.

Claim 15

The circuitry as recited in claim 9 wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number.

Claim 16

The circuitry as recited in claim 10 wherein said first portion translating means further comprises an NPA table which uses the NPA number to determine said destination point code.

Claim 17

The circuitry as recited in claim 10 wherein said second portion translating means further comprises an NXX table which uses the NXX number to determine said destination point code.

Claim 18

Circuitry cooperatively arranged with a signaling system for improving the operation of the signaling system, the signaling system being composed of a plurality of service switching points (SSPs) forming a network wherein said network of SSPs contains at least one signaling link consolidator such that each of said SSPs in said network is connected to said link consolidator through an associated individual signaling link, a signaling link connects said signaling link consolidator to a signaling transfer point (STP) located outside of the network of SSPs, said circuitry comprising: means, within each SSP, for producing a custom local area signaling service (CLASS) message; means, connected to said producing means, for translating a destination number supplied by an originating SSP into a destination point code for either a destination SSP or the STP; means for addressing said CLASS message using the destination point code as an address; and means for sending, via at least one signaling link, said CLASS message to either said destination SSP or the STP depending upon the address, wherein said translating means further comprises: means for translating, if feasible, a first portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said STP; means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; and means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said destination SSP, wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number, wherein said first portion translating means further comprises an NPA table which uses the NPA number to determine said destination point code, wherein said first portion translating means further comprises: means for retrieving an information field from said NPA table; means for determining from said information field if said NPA number is supported by said NPA table; and means for assigning said destination point code to said message such that said message containing said destination number is routed to said STP if said determining means indicates that said NPA number is not supported by said NPA table.

Claim 19

Circuitry cooperatively arranged with a signaling system for improving the operation of the signaling system, the signaling system being composed of a plurality of service switching points (SSPs) forming a network wherein said network of SSPs contains at least one signaling link consolidator such that each of said SSPs in said network is connected to said link consolidator through an associated individual signaling link, a signaling link connects said signaling link consolidator to a signaling transfer point (STP) located outside of the network of SSPs, said circuitry comprising: means, within each SSP, for producing a custom local area signaling service (CLASS) message; means, connected to said producing means, for translating a destination number supplied by an originating SSP into a destination point code for either a destination SSP or the STP; means for addressing said CLASS message using the destination point code as an address; and means for sending, via at least one signaling link, said CLASS message to either said destination SSP or the STP depending upon the address, wherein said translating means further comprises: means for translating, if feasible, a first portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said STP; means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; and means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said destination SSP, wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number, wherein said first portion translating means further comprises an NPA table which uses the NPA number to determine said destination point code, wherein said first portion translating means further comprises: means for retrieving an information field from said NPA table; means for determining from said information field if said NPA number is supported by said NPA table; and means for assigning said destination point code to said message such that said message containing said destination number is routed to said STP if said determining means indicates that said NPA number is not supported by said NPA table.

Claim 20

Circuitry cooperatively arranged with a signaling system for improving the operation of the signaling system, the signaling system being composed of a plurality of service switching points (SSPs) forming a network wherein said network of SSPs contains at least one signaling link consolidator such that each of said SSPs in said network is connected to said link consolidator through an associated individual signaling link, a signaling link connects said signaling link consolidator to a signaling transfer point (STP) located outside of the network of SSPs, said circuitry comprising: means, within each SSP, for producing a custom local area signaling service (CLASS) message; means, connected to said producing means, for translating a destination number supplied by an originating SSP into a destination point code for either a destination SSP or the STP; means for addressing said CLASS message using the destination point code as an address; and means for sending, via at least one signaling link, said CLASS message to either said destination SSP or the STP depending upon the address, wherein said translating means further comprises: means for translating, if feasible, a first portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said STP; means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; and means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said destination SSP, wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number, wherein said second portion translating means further comprises an NXX table which uses the NXX number to determine said destination point code, and wherein said second portion translating means further comprises: means for retrieving an information field from said NXX table; means for determining from said information field if said NXX number is supported by said NXX table; means for routing said destination number to said STP if said determining means indicates that said NXX number is not supported by said NXX table; means for determining if said information field contains said destination point code; means for inserting said destination point code into said CLASS message; and means for routing said CLASS message to said destination SSP that corresponds to said destination point code.

Claim 21

Circuitry cooperatively arranged with a signaling system for improving the operation of the signaling system, the signaling system being composed of a plurality of service switching points (SSPs) forming a network wherein said network of SSPs contains at least one signaling link consolidator such that each of said SSPs in said network is connected to said link consolidator through an associated individual signaling link, a signaling link connects said signaling link consolidator to a signaling transfer point (STP) located outside of the network of SSPs, said circuitry comprising: means, within each SSP, for producing a custom local area signaling service (CLASS) message; means, connected to said producing means, for translating a destination number supplied by an originating SSP into a destination point code for either a destination SSP or the STP; means for addressing said CLASS message using the destination point code as an address; and means for sending, via at least one signaling link, said CLASS message to either said destination SSP or the STP depending upon the address, wherein said translating means further comprises: means for translating, if feasible, a first portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said STP; means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; and means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said destination SSP, wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number, wherein said second portion translating means further comprises an NXX table which uses the NXX number to determine said destination point code, and wherein said second portion translating means further comprises: means for retrieving an information field from said NXX table; means for determining from said information field if said NXX number is supported by said NXX table; means for routing said destination number to said STP if said determining means indicates that said NXX number is not supported by said NXX table; means for determining if said information field contains said destination point code; means for inserting said destination point code into said CLASS message; and means for routing said CLASS message to said destination SSP that corresponds to said destination point code.

Claim 22

An improved service switching point (SSP) for each SSP in a network of SSPs interconnected by signaling links to a signaling link consolidator, said improved SSP cooperatively arranged with a signal transfer point (STP) that is external to said network and is connected to said signaling link consolidator via another signaling link, the improved SSP comprising: means for producing a signaling message; means for addressing said signaling message to another SSP in said network and to said STP, said addressing means further comprising means for translating a portion of a destination number supplied by said improved SSP into a destination point code for use as an address of said another SSP or said STP to which the signaling message is to be sent and said translating means further comprising means for translating a first portion, if feasible, of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said STP, means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated, and means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said another SSP; and means for sending, via said signaling links and said signaling link consolidator, said signaling message to said another SSP or said STP.

Claim 23

An improved service switching point (SSP) for each SSP in a network of SSPs interconnected by signaling links to a signaling link consolidator, said improved SSP cooperatively arranged with a signal transfer point (STP) that is external to said network and is connected to said signaling link consolidator via another signaling link, the improved SSP comprising: means for producing a signaling message; means for addressing said signaling message to another SSP in said network and to said STP, said addressing means further comprising means for translating a portion of a destination number supplied by said improved SSP into a destination point code for use as an address of said another SSP or said STP to which the signaling message is to be sent and said translating means further comprising means for translating a first portion, if feasible, of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said STP, means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated, and means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said another SSP; and means for sending, via said signaling links and said signaling link consolidator, said signaling message to said another SSP or said STP.

Claim 24

The improved SSP as recited in claim 15 wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number.

Claim 25

The improved SSP as recited in claim 16 wherein said first portion translating means further comprises an NPA table which uses the NPA number to determine said destination point code.

Claim 26

The improved SSP as recited in claim 16 wherein said second portion translating means further comprises an NXX table which uses the NXX number to determine said destination point code.

Claim 27

An improved service switching point (SSP) for each SSP in a network of SSPs interconnected by signaling links to a signaling link consolidator, wherein said improved SSP is cooperatively arranged with a signal transfer point (STP) external to said network and connected to said signaling link consolidator via another signaling link, the improved SSP comprising: means for producing a signaling message; means for addressing said signaling message to another SSP in said network; and means for sending, via said signaling links and said signaling link consolidator, said signaling message to said another SSP, wherein said addressing means further comprises means for addressing said signaling message to said STP and means for translating a portion of a destination number supplied by said improved SSP into a destination point code for use as an address of said another SSP or said STP to which the signaling message is to be sent, wherein said translating means further comprises: means for translating a first portion, if feasible, of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said STP; means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; and means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said another SSP, wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number, wherein said first portion translating means further comprises: an NPA table which uses the NPA number to determine said destination point code, means for retrieving an information field from said NPA table; means for determining from said information field if said NPA number is supported by said NPA table; and means for assigning said destination point code to said message such that said message containing said destination number is routed to said STP if said determining means indicates that said NPA number is not supported by said NPA table.

Claim 28

An improved service switching point (SSP) for each SSP in a network of SSPs interconnected by signaling links to a signaling link consolidator, wherein said improved SSP is cooperatively arranged with a signal transfer point (STP) external to said network and connected to said signaling link consolidator via another signaling link, the improved SSP comprising: means for producing a signaling message; means for addressing said signaling message to another SSP in said network; and means for sending, via said signaling links and said signaling link consolidator, said signaling message to said another SSP, wherein said addressing means further comprises means for addressing said signaling message to said STP and means for translating a portion of a destination number supplied by said improved SSP into a destination point code for use as an address of said another SSP or said STP to which the signaling message is to be sent, wherein said translating means further comprises: means for translating a first portion, if feasible, of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said STP; means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; and means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said another SSP, wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number, wherein said first portion translating means further comprises: an NPA table which uses the NPA number to determine said destination point code, means for retrieving an information field from said NPA table; means for determining from said information field if said NPA number is supported by said NPA table; and means for assigning said destination point code to said message such that said message containing said destination number is routed to said STP if said determining means indicates that said NPA number is not supported by said NPA table.

Claim 29

An improved service switching point (SSP) for each SSP in a network of SSPs interconnected by signaling links to a signaling link consolidator, wherein said improved SSP is cooperatively arranged with a signal transfer point (STP) external to said network and connected to said signaling link consolidator via another signaling link, the improved SSP comprising: means for producing a signaling message; means for addressing said signaling message to another SSP in said network; and means for sending, via said signaling links and said signaling link consolidator, said signaling message to said another SSP, wherein said addressing means further comprises means for addressing said signaling message to said STP and means for translating a portion of a destination number supplied by said improved SSP into a destination point code for use as an address of said another SSP or said STP to which the signaling message is to be sent, wherein said translating means further comprises: means for translating a first portion, if feasible, of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said STP; means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; and means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said another SSP, wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number, wherein said second portion translating means further comprises: an NXX table which uses the NXX number to determine said destination point code, means for retrieving an information field from said NXX table; means for determining from said information field if said NXX number is supported by said NXX table; and means for assigning said destination point code to said message such that said message containing said destination number is routed to said STP if said determining means indicates that said NXX number is not supported by said NXX table.

Claim 30

An improved service switching point (SSP) for each SSP in a network of SSPs interconnected by signaling links to a signaling link consolidator, wherein said improved SSP is cooperatively arranged with a signal transfer point (STP) external to said network and connected to said signaling link consolidator via another signaling link, the improved SSP comprising: means for producing a signaling message; means for addressing said signaling message to another SSP in said network; and means for sending, via said signaling links and said signaling link consolidator, said signaling message to said another SSP, wherein said addressing means further comprises means for addressing said signaling message to said STP and means for translating a portion of a destination number supplied by said improved SSP into a destination point code for use as an address of said another SSP or said STP to which the signaling message is to be sent, wherein said translating means further comprises: means for translating a first portion, if feasible, of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said STP; means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; and means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said another SSP, wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number, wherein said second portion translating means further comprises: an NXX table which uses the NXX number to determine said destination point code, means for retrieving an information field from said NXX table; means for determining from said information field if said NXX number is supported by said NXX table; and means for assigning said destination point code to said message such that said message containing said destination number is routed to said STP if said determining means indicates that said NXX number is not supported by said NXX table.

Claim 31

An improved service switching point (SSP) for each SSP in a network of SSPs interconnected by signaling links to a link consolidator, the improved SSP comprising: means for producing a custom local area signaling service (CLASS) message; means for addressing said signaling message to another SSP in said network; and means for sending, via said signaling links and said link consolidator, said signaling message to said another SSP.

Claim 32

An improved service switching point (SSP) for each SSP in a network of SSPs interconnected by signaling links to a link consolidator, the improved SSP comprising: means for producing a custom local area signaling service (CLASS) message; means for addressing said signaling message to another SSP in said network; and means for sending, via said signaling links and said link consolidator, said signaling message to said another SSP.

Claim 33

A telecommunications network containing circuitry for providing direct message routing between nodes in the telecommunications network composed of service switching points (SSPs) and a signaling link consolidator, said SSPs being connected to said signaling link consolidator by signaling links, said circuitry being located in a first node of said telecommunications network, said first node providing a destination number of another node, said telecommunications network cooperatively arranged with a signal transfer point (STP) interconnected to said signaling link consolidator with another signaling link, said circuitry comprising: means for producing a message; means for translating, if feasible, a first portion of said destination number into a destination point code corresponding to said STP; means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code; means for addressing said message to said another node corresponding to said destination point code; means for sending, via said signaling links, said message to said another node or said STP depending upon said destination point code.

Claim 34

A telecommunications network containing circuitry for providing direct message routing between nodes in the telecommunications network composed of service switching points (SSPs) and a signaling link consolidator, said SSPs being connected to said signaling link consolidator by signaling links, said circuitry being located in a first node of said telecommunications network, said first node providing a destination number of another node, said telecommunications network cooperatively arranged with a signal transfer point (STP) interconnected to said signaling link consolidator with another signaling link, said circuitry comprising: means for producing a message; means for translating, if feasible, a first portion of said destination number into a destination point code corresponding to said STP; means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code; means for addressing said message to said another node corresponding to said destination point code; means for sending, via said signaling links, said message to said another node or said STP depending upon said destination point code.

Claim 35

The circuitry of claim 22 wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number.

Claim 36

The circuitry of claim 23 wherein said first portion translating means further comprises an NPA table which uses the NPA number to determine said destination point code.

Claim 37

The circuitry of claim 23 wherein said second portion translating means further comprises an NXX table which uses the NXX number to determine said destination point code.

Claim 38

A telecommunications network containing circuitry for providing direct message routing between nodes in the telecommunications network composed of service switching points (SSPs) and a signaling link consolidator, said SSPs being connected to said signaling link consolidator by signaling links, said apparatus being located in a first node of said telecommunications network, said first node providing a destination number of another node, said telecommunications network cooperatively arranged with a signal transfer point (STP) interconnected to said signaling link consolidator with another signaling link, said circuitry comprising: means for producing a message; means for translating, if feasible, a first portion of said destination number into a destination point code corresponding to said STP; means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code; means for addressing said message to said another node corresponding to said destination point code; means for sending, via said signaling links, said message to said another node or said STP depending upon said destination point code, wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number, and wherein said first portion translating means further comprises an NPA table which uses the NPA number to determine said destination point code, means for retrieving an information field from said NPA table; means for determining from said information field if said NPA number is supported by said NPA table; and means for assigning said destination point code to said message such that said message containing said destination number is routed to said STP if said determining means indicates that said NPA number is not supported by said NPA table.

Claim 39

A telecommunications network containing circuitry for providing direct message routing between nodes in the telecommunications network composed of service switching points (SSPs) and a signaling link consolidator, said SSPs being connected to said signaling link consolidator by signaling links, said apparatus being located in a first node of said telecommunications network, said first node providing a destination number of another node, said telecommunications network cooperatively arranged with a signal transfer point (STP) interconnected to said signaling link consolidator with another signaling link, said circuitry comprising: means for producing a message; means for translating, if feasible, a first portion of said destination number into a destination point code corresponding to said STP; means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code; means for addressing said message to said another node corresponding to said destination point code; means for sending, via said signaling links, said message to said another node or said STP depending upon said destination point code, wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number, and wherein said first portion translating means further comprises an NPA table which uses the NPA number to determine said destination point code, means for retrieving an information field from said NPA table; means for determining from said information field if said NPA number is supported by said NPA table; and means for assigning said destination point code to said message such that said message containing said destination number is routed to said STP if said determining means indicates that said NPA number is not supported by said NPA table.

Claim 40

A telecommunications network containing circuitry for providing direct message routing between nodes in the telecommunications network composed of service switching points (SSPs) and a signaling link consolidator, said SSPs being connected to said signaling link consolidator by signaling links, said apparatus being located in a first node of said telecommunications network, said first node providing a destination number of another node, said telecommunications network cooperatively arranged with a signal transfer point (STP) interconnected to said signaling link consolidator with another signaling link, said circuitry comprising: means for producing a message; means for translating, if feasible, a first portion of said destination number into a destination point code corresponding to said STP; means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code; means for addressing said message to said another node corresponding to said destination point code; means for sending, via said signaling links, said message to said another node or said STP depending upon said destination point code, wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number, and wherein said second portion translating means further comprises an NXX table which uses the NXX number to determine said destination point code, means for retrieving an information field from said NXX table; means for determining from said information field if said NXX number is supported by said NXX table; means for routing said destination number to said STP if said determining means indicates that said NXX number is not supported by said NXX table; means for determining if said information field contains said destination point code; means for inserting said destination point code into said message; and means for routing said message to said another node that corresponds to said destination point code.

Claim 41

A telecommunications network containing circuitry for providing direct message routing between nodes in the telecommunications network composed of service switching points (SSPs) and a signaling link consolidator, said SSPs being connected to said signaling link consolidator by signaling links, said apparatus being located in a first node of said telecommunications network, said first node providing a destination number of another node, said telecommunications network cooperatively arranged with a signal transfer point (STP) interconnected to said signaling link consolidator with another signaling link, said circuitry comprising: means for producing a message; means for translating, if feasible, a first portion of said destination number into a destination point code corresponding to said STP; means for requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; means for translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code; means for addressing said message to said another node corresponding to said destination point code; means for sending, via said signaling links, said message to said another node or said STP depending upon said destination point code, wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number, and wherein said second portion translating means further comprises an NXX table which uses the NXX number to determine said destination point code, means for retrieving an information field from said NXX table; means for determining from said information field if said NXX number is supported by said NXX table; means for routing said destination number to said STP if said determining means indicates that said NXX number is not supported by said NXX table; means for determining if said information field contains said destination point code; means for inserting said destination point code into said message; and means for routing said message to said another node that corresponds to said destination point code.

Claim 42

The circuitry of claim 22 wherein said message is a custom area signaling service (CLASS) message.

Claim 45

The method of claim 29 wherein said translating step further comprises: translating if feasible a first portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said STP; requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; and translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said destination SSP.

Claim 46

The method of claim 30 wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number.

Claim 47

The method of claim 31 wherein the first portion translating step further comprises the steps of: accessing a location in an NPA table using said NPA number as a pointer into the NPA table; and retrieving said destination point code located at the accessed NPA table location.

Claim 48

The method of claim 32 wherein the second portion translating step further comprises the steps of: accessing a location in an NXX table using said NXX number as a pointer into the NPA table; and retrieving said destination point code located at the accessed NXX table location.

Claim 55

The method of claim 36 wherein said originating SSP provides a destination number and wherein said addressing step further comprises the step of: translating a portion of said destination number into a destination point code for use as an address of said destination SSP or said STP to which the CLASS message is to be sent.

Claim 56

The method of claim 37 wherein said translating step further comprises: translating, if feasible, a first portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said STP; requesting further translation if said first portion of said destination number cannot be translated; and translating, in response to said request for further translation, a second portion of said destination number into said destination point code corresponding to said destination SSP.

Claim 57

The method of claim 38 wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number.

Claim 58

The method of claim 39 wherein the first portion translating step further comprises the steps of: accessing a location in an NPA table using said NPA number as a pointer into the NPA table; and retrieving said destination point code located at the accessed NPA table location.

Claim 59

The method of claim 39 wherein the second portion translation step further comprises the steps of: accessing a location in an NXX table using said NXX number as a pointer into the NXX table; and retrieving said destination point code located at said accessed NXX table location.

Claim 66

The method of claim 44 wherein said destination number has the form NPA-NXX-XXXX, wherein said first portion of the destination number is an NPA number and said second portion of the destination number is an NXX number.

Claim 67

The method of claim 45 wherein the first portion translating step further comprises the steps of: accessing a location in an NPA table using said NPA number as a pointer into the NPA table; and retrieving said destination point code located at the accessed NPA table location.

Claim 68

The method of claim 45 wherein the second portion translation step further comprises the steps of: accessing a location in an NXX table using said NXX number as a pointer into the NXX table; and retrieving said destination point code located at said accessed NXX table location.

Claim 73

The method of claim 44 wherein said message is a custom local area signaling services (CLASS) message.